Triple alternating siphon.



No. 847,592. Y PATLNTLD MAR. 19, 1907. s. w. MILLER. TRIPLE ALTERNATING sIPHoN. APPLIUATION FILED 00T. 25, 1906.

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PATBNTED MAR. 19. 1907.

'SL W. MILLER. TRIPLE ALTERNA'IYING SIPHON.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 25, 1906.

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E v@ INN.

SIDNEY W. MILLER, OF CI-IICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TRIPLE ALTERNATING SlPHON- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Marcil 19,1907.

Application filed October 25, 1906. Serial NoI 340,576.

To ad wit/0m it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY W. MILLER, a. citizen of the United States, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alternating Siphons, (Case B and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, tion.'

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus designed for controlling the flow of liquid from a main tank to a plurality of tanks or receptacles and so arranged that the plurality of receptacles may be `filled or charged in a predetermined rotative order from said main or central tank.

My improved controlling apparatus may be used wherever it is desired to distribute liquid from a central tank in a predetermined or rotative order to a plurality of tanks or receptacles or other places for the disposal of the liquid.

The invention is which form a part of this specificaespecially applicable forl y use in connection with that type of sewagepurifying systems wherein the sewage is subjected to preliminary septic treatment.

My improved apparatus in this use is designed to be located between the septictank and the contact or filter beds to receive the sewage from the septic-tank and properly distribute it upon said beds.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

As shown in the drawings, Figure I is a partial plan view of a distributing or dosing tank, showing in plan view the siphonic equipment for emptying same'. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section thereof with parts shown iii section. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of one of the siphons and its equipment, taken in a plane at right angles to the plane of Fig. 2,

As shown in the drawings, A designates a tank, which may be termed a main di.,- tributing7 or dosing tank and which is adapted for connection with a source supplying liquid through conduits A. when filled is designed to be emptied into a plurality of separate receptacles (not herein. shown) through the medium of a plurality of deep-seal siphons B B B2, which, as herein shown, are disposed in a straight line near l one wall thereof.

The tank l The said siphons for emptying tlie tank are of that type which are brought into operation through the medium of a blow-off trap having a seal of less depth than the seal of the trap, outwardly through which the liquid flows from an operatingsiphon. The short leg l) of each siphon consists of a downwardly-opening bell, which is supported over the upper end of the lower leg b of the siphon in any suitable or familiar manner. Said longer leg of each siphon communicates with a deep-seal trap b2, having an upturned or outlet leg b3, that di'scharges the liquid contents of the tank flowing through the siphon and its trap into a pipe or conduit C, leading to a suitable place for the disposal of liquir The deep-trap seal of each siphon is filled by the liquid iiowing thereinto during .the emptying operation of said siphon. Each of said siphons is provided with a blow-0H trap having a seal of less depth than that of the main trap of the siphon, and each siphon is brought into operation by pressure, which forces the seal of the blow-0H trap. Said blow-off trap of each siphon comprises an inner or receiving leg E, rising into and opening upwardly in the bell or shorter leg of -the siphon a distance above the receiving end of thereof the longer leg of the siphon, and an outer or discharge-leg E', connected with the inner leg by a short transverse member e and opening at its upper end into the atmosphere at a point above the maximum liquid-level in the tank. The said siphons, thus equipped, are arranged in the tank and connected in a manner generally similar to that shown in the prior United States patent to Adams, No. 760,770, wherein. the siphons are connected in such manner that they operate to alternately empty the tank in a predetermined rotative order. In the present construction the blow-off traps of the several siphons are each connected by a pipe with the main trap of another siphon. of the series in such manner that during the operation of each siphon liquid is diverted to the main or deep-seal trap of an idle siphon, thereby filling or partially jfilling the trap of the latter siphon.

The operating-siphon iills its own deepseal trap, and the liquid so diverted from the operating-siphon iills or 'partially fills the trap to which said liquid is directed, While the deep-seal trap belonging to the other idle siphon to which no liquid has been directed either from the tank or the blow-0H trap of IOO IIO

another Siphon contains a less quantity of liquid than either of the other traps, and therefore has a weakened seal. When the tank is again filled, it is emptied through the Siphon having the weakened seal, being the first to be forced, and this Siphon, when operated, as well as that of the Siphon to which liquid is diverted from the blow-off trap thereof, are filled to a greater or less extent, leaving the other sibrought into operation to empty This rotative order is maintained so long as the operation of the Siphonic apparatus continues. This method of operation applies to a siphonie equipment employing three Siphons and will be modified as may berequired to adapt the general construction to more than three siphons. Reference to the weakened seal herein has regard only to the seal afforded by the liquid in the main or deep-seal trap of the Siphon and has no regard to the seal of the blow-off trap.

The pipes by which fluid is diverted from the blow-off traps of the siphons to the deepseal traps during the emptying operations of the siphons are designated by the referenceletters F F F2, `the pipe F diverting liquid from the blow-off trap of Siphon B to the deep-Seal trap of Siphon B2, the pipe F diverting liquid from the blew-off trap of siphon B2 to the deep-seal trap of Siphon B, and the pipe F2 diverting liquid from the blow-off trap of Siphon B to the deep-seal trap of Siphon B. The said liquid-diverting pipes are connected with the outer members E of the blow-off traps, and the depth of Seal of the-said blow-off traps is fixed by the distance between the lower transverse pipes e and the level of the receiving ends of said diverting-pipes. The outer members of said blow-off pipes extend beyond the connection thereof with the diverting-pipes and above the maximum liquid-level in the tank to afford a free avenue of escape for the air imprisoned in the siphons at the time of release of air through said blow-off traps, though in some instances the air may be discharged through the liquid-diverting pipes.4 It may be observed that in practice the discharge of air through said blow-off traps acts to force substantially all the li the open upper ends t diverting pipes. The Said blow-off traps are filled during the emptying operation of the siphons through the inner members E thereof, and Said inner members are made of ample diameter to insure proper refilling of the traps.

Before the tank A is filled, prior to the first operation of the lemptying uid therefrom through ereof and the liquidtherein has the weakest seal, and is therefore the first to be brought into action.

In the following description of the operation it will be assumed that the Seal of the. trap of siphon B is the weakest a'ter the traps have been preliminarily filled and will be the first to be brought into operation to empty the tank. After the blow-oill trap of Siphon B has been forced and the Siphon I Started into operation a portion of the liquid fiowing into the Siphon is diverted through the pipe F to the deep-seal trap of Siphon Bf, which latter is an idle Siphon at this time. The deep-seal trap of Siphon B is f il led by the liquid flowing thereinto, and the trap ol' Siphon is partially filled by the liquid diverted thereinto through the pipe F. The Siphon B is also idle er non-operative at this time, and inasmuch as no liquid flows thereinto either from the tank or from a divertingpipe the Seal of said latter Siphon is weakened, so that Said Siphon is next brought into action to empty the tank. When the tank has again been filled to the proper level to force the blow-ofi' trap of the Siphon B, having a weakened seal, said Siphon operates to empty the tank, and during the emptying operation liquid is diverted through the blowofl trap thereof and the pipe F2 to the deep- Seal trap of the Siphon B to strengthen. the seal of' the latter. The Siphon Bl at this time is an idle Siphon, and inasmuch as its seal not being' strengthened by the flow of liquid thereinto it follows that after the tank has thus been emptied by the Siphon B and its trap has been properly sealed by the liquid flowing thereinto the trap of the Siphon B2 has a weakened seal, and said Siphon B2 is inext brought into operation to empty the tank. During the emptying operation of the latter Siphon liquid is diverted through its blow-off trap and the pipe F to strengthen the seal of the-deep-seal trap of ISiphon B, thereby leaving the seal of the non-operating I trap B at this time weakened and next to be brought into operationfto empty the tank. The rotative order of emptying the tank l through said Siplions thus established is maintained so long as liquid is supplied to i the tank A.

The extension of the inner legs E of the blow-off traps above the inlet ends of the longer legs of the Siphons insures that ample time will be given te release the pressure in j the siphons to start the Same in operation before liquid rising upwardly into the short leg of the Siphon can pass into said leg E of the blow-ofil trap. The inner leg E of each blowoff trap is made of sufficiently large diameter as compared to the diameter of the outer leg E thereof as to insure the retention in said trap of a sufficient quantity of liquid to properly seal the trap.

The pipes F F F2 above the floor of the are located entirely tank A, so that said IOO ITO

pipes may be installed in the apparatus alter the'siphons have been set in their foundations A2, or the pipes may be repaired or substituted without disturbing the setting oi said siphons. T he outlet endsot said diverting-pipes are connected with the traps ot the siphons by rigid downturned portions f, th ereby etlecting a comparatively rigid connectien with said traps. The other or receiving ends or said pipes and the blow-oil' traps are loosely or non-rigidly iitted to their associated siphons. By reason ot this construetion and arrangement ol" the parts it will be observed that the said liquid-diverting pipes of the blow-oil traps may be readily connected with the siphons already iiXed notwithstanding the fact that the siphons may not be accurately alined, there being more or less 'freedom of movement ot the receiving ends of the said pipes to accommodate them to such inaccuracies ol the setting oll the siphons and traps. This iieature ot the construction is of considerable practical importance, inasmuch as the siphons are usually set by persons other than the one applying the auxiliary equipment.' Therefore the person setting the siphon is not required. to set the si.- phons accurately relatively to the distance apart thereoit, and inaccuracies in the siphon setting does not add tothe Work or dillieulty of applying the auxiliary liquid-diverting pipes.

lt may be observed that in the arrangement herein shown. the traps of the siphons te which liquid is diverted through the pipes F F F2 are not entirely filled during such diversion, lmt a given trap of an idle Siphon is supplied with liquid to such extent as tr, strengthen its seal as compared to that el' the other idle siphon.

l claim as my invention;

l.. he combination with a liquid-tank, et a plurality of deep-seal, trapped siphons for emptying the tank, blow eil' traps therefor, and liquid-diverting pipes, each connected at ene end With the blew-oit trap of one siphon and discharging at its other end into the deep-seal trap et ane-ther siphcn.

2. rllhe combination with a liquid-tank, of a plurality of deep-seal, trapped siphons lier emptying the tank, blew-eil' traps therefor, and liquid-diverting pipes located above the floor ci" the tank, each receiving liquid 'from the blew-oil' trap el? one siphon and discharging the liquid into the deep-seal trap of another siphon.

3. The combination with a liquid-tank, of a l 1 l l l plurality of deep-seal, trapped siphons for emptyV ing the tank, blow-od' traps therefor, liquidliverting pipes each receiving liquid at one end from the blew-eti' trap of one siphen and dischargingthe liquid at .its other end inte the deep-se al trap of another siphon, the discharge end el said liquid-diverting pipes being connected rigidly with the deepseal traps of said ends et the blow-ell traps associated therewith having free er loose connection with their associated siphons.

4. The eomhinatidn with a liquid-tank, of a pluralitj.'l el deep-seal, trapped siphons for empty ing the tank, a hlsw-oil trap for each siphen comprising a leg which rises into the shorter leg el' the siphon, and a vertical leg outside said shorter leg of the siphon connected at its lower end With the inner leg, and liquid-diverting.pipes each connected at one end with the outer leg of the blow-oil" trap et one siphon and discharging at its other end into the deep-seal trap of another siphen.

5. The combination with a liquid-tank, of a plurality of deep-seal, trapped siphons for emptj,V ing the tank, a blow-ell trap for each siphen comprising a leg which rises int-o the shorter leg et the siphen above the receiving end el the longer leg thereof, and a vertical leg outside said shorter leg of the sipho-n connected at its lower end with the inner leg, and liquid-diverting pipes each cennectedat one end with thev outer leg of the blow-oli trap el ene siphen and discharging at its other end into the deep-seal trap of another siphen.

6. The combination with a liquid-tank, of a pluralitj,V` el deep-seal, trapped siphons for empty' ing the tank, a blew-ell' trap for each siphen comprising an inner or receiving leg communicating with the air-space of the siphon.v and an outer er discharge leg which rises above the maximum liquid-level of the vtank and liquid-diverting pipes each con nected at one end with the cuter leg of' the blew-eil' trap one siphon between the ends et said cuter leg and discharging at its other end into the deep-seal trap another siphen.

ln testimony that l claim the 'foregoing as my invention l allix my signature, in the presence el two witnesses, this llth day et October, A. D. i906.

SIDNEY W. MILLER.

Vvlitnesses:

ll'irLLrAM L. HALL, T. l-l. ALFRnDs.

siphon and the receiving IOO 

